Israel to advance plans to develop Gaza gas field

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his government will advance plans to develop a natural gas field off the coast of the Gaza Strip.

“In the framework of existing efforts between Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian Authority (PA), the [Israeli] government is moving forward with developing the Gaza Marine gas field off the coast of Gaza,” Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

The Israeli premier said a ministerial committee headed by the National Security Council will be formed to preserve Israel's security and political interests over this issue.

The move is "subject to coordination between the [Israeli] security services and direct dialogue with Egypt, in coordination with the PA,” the statement said.

There was no comment yet from the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority or Hamas group, which rules the Gaza Strip, on the Israeli move.

Last month, Hamas said it will not allow the Israeli occupation to use the issue of Gaza gas field as a tool to pass security and political deals with other parties.

Egypt has yet to comment on Netanyahu’s statements.

In October 2022, the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) said it is close to reaching a technical deal with the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) to extract gas from the Marine gas field off the shore of Gaza.

The Marine 1 field, Gaza’s first gas field, was discovered in the 1990s in the enclave’s territorial water. The field is 36 kilometers (23 miles) west of the Gaza Strip in the Mediterranean waters and was developed in 2000 by the British Gas company.

The Marine 2 field is located in the sea border area between Gaza and Israel. Yet, the Palestinians were unable to utilize both gas fields due to Israeli opposition.

Home to 2.3 million population, the Gaza Strip has been reeling under a years-long Israeli blockade since 2007, badly affecting livelihood in the territory.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar